Bicoastal commercial visual effects studio www.animalwest.com.>Animal recently provided a broad array of finishing services for Audi’s “Luxury Prison” campaign and Dodge’s ongoing rebrand for its Ram trucks, “Strength in Numbers.” Proving their own versatility, value and performance, www.animalwest.com.>Animal conformed and color graded Audi’s longform online videos “Startled Smart” and “Kenny G: Riot Suppressor,” and created extensive motion graphics for the Ram commercials “Mightier,” “Grab an End” and “Collective Force.”nnCreated by Venables Bell & Partners for Audi USA, the “Luxury Prison” campaign redefines luxury by positioning the Audi A8 as progressive luxury against old emblems Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Directed by Matt & Oz of Caviar LA, “Startled Smart” satirizes at-risk privileged teens as they are schooled about the consequences of an opulent lifestyle by “inmates” in smoking jackets and ascots. Effectively cast against type, saxophonist Kenny G makes a subversive turn as “Riot Suppressor,” who not only subdues uprisings by the luxury prisoners with his smooth jazz, but also renders them comatose. A :60 teaser for “Riot Suppressor,” directed by Bryan Buckley of Hungry Man, aired during Super Bowl XLIV; both videos can be can be viewed at YouTube.com/AudiofAmerica.nn
nnnnwww.animalwest.com.>Animal provided a full complement of finishing services and to meet the project’s tight turnaround, colorist Allan Stallard from the company’s East Coast office worked alongside lead Flame artist Ben Looram in Venice. nnwww.animalwest.com.>Animal also worked with agency Doner on the ongoing Ram rebranding campaign that debuted during the Super Bowl. Ram, now a sub-brand of Dodge for pickup trucks, is marketed as a powerful technological marvel to serious truck customers. www.animalwest.com.>Animal‘s visual effects artist Ryan Gibson designed the motion graphics for “Mightier,” “Grab an End” and “Collective Force,” all directed by Klaus Obermeyer of Aero Film. Encouraged by Doner producer Kris Kulas and art director Dan Councilor to expand on their vision for the “Strength in Numbers” campaign, Gibson strove to integrate details that viewers would want to see again and discover something new each time.nnnnGibson researched performance data on torque, shifting coefficients and horsepower and created visual representations of that data in the form of equations, calculations and line graphs that are tracked to the moving truck’s grille, axle, side panels and headlights. He animated the graphics and used Syntheyes for 3D tracking on the filmed plate.nnLeslie Sorrentino, www.animalwest.com.>Animal‘s executive producer, said, “We have always been confident of our ability to deliver visual effects, color grading and finishing at the highest levels. However, we are realizing that the creative energy of Venice, and particularly Abbot Kinney Blvd., is something that galvanizes all of us. Our clients feel it and the entire studio resonates with that creative potential.”nnwww.animalwest.com.>Animal recently delivered “Love What You Do,” a massive worldwide campaign for BlackBerry Torch and has been awarded feature film visual effects production on the dramatic comedy “A Little Bit of Heaven.”nnProduction CreditsnnAudi “Luxury Prison”nTitle: “Startled Smart” “Kenny G: Riot Suppressor“nClient: Audi Product: A8nnAd Agency: Venables, Bell & PartnersnArt Director: Byron Del Rosario nProducer: Nicolette SpencernCopywriter: Matt Keatsnn”Startled Smart“nProduction Company: Caviar LAnDirector: Matt & Oznn”Kenny G: Riot Suppressor“nProduction Company: Hungry MannDirector: Bryan BuckleynnEditorial Company: FinalCut LAnProducer: Jennifer Miller nEditor: Matt Murphy “Startled Smart“nGraham Turner “Kenny G: Riot Suppressor“nnVisual Effects and Finishing: www.animalwest.com.>AnimalnExecutive Producer: Leslie SorrentinonLead Flame Artist: Ben LooramnColorist: Allan StallardnnRam “Strength in Numbers”nTitle: “Mightier” “Grab an End” “Collective Force“nnAd Agency: DonernArt Director: Dan Councilor nProducer: Kris Kulas nnProduction Company: AeronExecutive Producer: Lance O’ConnornHead of Production: Rob Helphand nDirector: Klaus ObermeyernDP: Klaus ObermeyernnVisual Effects: www.animalwest.com.>AnimalnExecutive Producer: Leslie Sorrentino nProducer: Sahir Champion nLead Flame Artist: Ben LooramnMotion Graphics: Ryan GibsonnFlame Artist: Mike Ek nnAbout ANIMALnFounded in 2001 by director and visual effects artist Michael Killen, visual effects artist Jim Kreitzburg and executive producer Kathy Dziubek, www.animalwest.com.>Animal operates as a lean, multi-disciplinary bicoastal studio. www.animalwest.com.>Animal‘s East and West Coast studios have partnered with national and international brands and advertising agencies to deliver world-class visual effects and transmedia for the broadcast, broadband and feature film worlds. nnwww.animalwest.com.>Animal‘s Venice studio opened in June of this year to expand the company’s home base in Pittsburgh to the West Coast. www.animalwest.com.>Animal‘s next-generation business model interweaves post production and production, providing creative and technical involvement at the conceptual stage, as well as on set supervision and custom-tailored services across the range of offerings from both studios, including motion graphics, visual effects and CGI, color grading, finishing and compositing.nnFor more information, please visit: www.animalwest.com.www.animalwest.com.>Animal West Leslie Sorrentino Contact Leslie via email 1212 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Suite A Venice, CA 90291 310-396-8022
Contact:Media: Mary Reardon Contact Mary via email 310-659-0965
Pioneering The Visual Narrative: Bobola Oniwura’s Impact on Nollywood’s Cinematic Evolution
Nollywood is in the middle of a visual revolution, and at its core is Bobola Oniwura, the mastermind behind some of the industry’s most striking cinematic transformations. Oniwura is a pioneering colorist whose unique approach to film aesthetics has set new standards for how Nigerian stories are told on screen. From the gritty realism of King of Boys: The Return of the King to the vibrant energy of A Tribe Called Judah, Oniwura’s work has become synonymous with a new era of cinematic excellence, one where color grading is no longer an afterthought but a defining narrative tool. The film industry in Nigeria known as Nollywood has grown into one of the most prolific cinematic powerhouses in the world. Producing thousands of films annually, it ranks alongside Hollywood and Bollywood in terms of output. Once characterized by rapid, low-budget productions, Nollywood has undergone a remarkable transformation, embracing higher production values, diverse storytelling, and international recognition. The industry’s films now command global audiences, made possible by platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, and receiving acclaim at major festivals. This evolution has been fueled by creatives like Oniwura, who are redefining the post-production technical standards of Nigerian films. His impact extends beyond the color suite. Drawing on his background in Architecture and user experience research, Oniwura approaches color grading with an acute understanding of audience perception, crafting visual experiences that enhance storytelling, evoke emotion, and immerse viewers in the rich textures of Nigerian culture. His ability to merge technical precision with artistic intuition has positioned him as one of the most sought-after colorists in Nollywood... Read More